A shocking twist has emerged in the persistent cattle rustling crisis in North-Central Nigeria, as security operatives in Nasarawa uncovered a suspected illicit livestock trade allegedly linked to a traditional ruler in Plateau State.
Acting on intelligence, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) swooped on the Lafia cattle market in Nasarawa State, intercepting eleven cows believed to have been rustled from Bokkos and arresting a suspect, Alhaji Ziya-U Inusa.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed he purchased twelve cows from a “paramount ruler” in Plateau but transported only eleven due to logistics constraints—a revelation now at the centre of an expanding investigation.
The arrest followed a tip-off on April 19 about suspicious livestock transactions, prompting swift police action that led to the recovery of the animals.
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In a dramatic turn, one Abdullahi Adamu from Bokkos stepped forward, identifying the cattle as part of his herd of 57 animals rustled in May 2025 by armed youths.
Adamu said repeated attempts to recover the livestock had failed until the Nasarawa operation, raising fresh concerns over organized rustling networks operating across state lines.
Security sources say the recovered cattle are now secured, while investigations continue to unravel the syndicate behind the theft and alleged resale pipeline involving intermediaries and buyers.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of attacks targeting pastoralist livelihoods across Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu, and surrounding communities in Plateau.
Recent operations highlight the scale of the crisis:
Troops under Operation Enduring Peace responded to a rustling incident in Mangu on April 16, though suspects fled before interception.
On April 15, 48 rustled cattle were recovered in Yelwa, Heipang District of Barkin Ladi.
Earlier, on April 13, security forces foiled a rustling attempt in Bassa, recovering 92 cattle after chasing fleeing suspects.
Security analysts warn that cattle rustling remains a major trigger of retaliatory violence in the region, deepening ethnic tensions and fueling cycles of attacks.
With allegations now touching traditional authority structures, the latest case could prove pivotal in exposing the deeper networks sustaining the crisis—and determining whether justice can reach beyond the foot soldiers of the crime.
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